Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-12
SUNDAY. ..........JUNEl II. 1887
An Extra Session.

We do not know that the President in
tends to call an extra session OF Congress,
nor indeed that be has been requested TO do
40 except by a number OF newspapers in
New York, Philadelphia, and elsewhere.
Nevertheless. we are very decidedly OF the
opinion that he ought to convene that body
in extra session IN the fall-certainly not
later than october. The Petersburg m
dey.AppeaI takes the other side OF the
question. II says;
at is difficult 10 conceive what good
could be accomplished by an extra session
Of Congress IN October. The only plea
now nut forward bv those in favor OF the
assembling Of Congress at that time is that
il would afford nm opportunity TO dispose
early in the session OF the yeXed matter OF
the Treasury surplus and thus give hope OF
an early adjournment. Past experience
teaches, however, that an extra session has
no such effect" &C., &c.
Undoubtedly the surplus ought TO be
taken out Of the Treasury in some way or
other, but thst Is by no means the only
legislation which the circumstances OF the
country demand.
To convene Congress in extra session
would be to compel that body to consider
not only bow the surplus in the Treasury
should be disposed Of, but many other mat
tiers which call Tor legislative action. The
President would point out the duty OF Con-
Cress in such way As that our national
legislators would lie almost constrained to
take action. His proclamation would en-
phaslze the demands Of "the situation,
AID would fix public attention upon them.
As we have SAID heretofore, we verify be-
lieye that Congress would do more in two
months il 1t should meet in extra session
IN October than It would do IN four months
il It should not meet until December.
The whole of the month Of December
would In this latter event be de-
voted to the appointment OF committees
and the organization OF the House OF Rep
reseuia,iyes. Nothing would be done in
December. Why not? We answer, be-
cause Christmas would come IN less than
three weeks after the assembling OF Con-
yress in regular session. To wait for the
regular meeting OF Congress will be to
notify that body tina. It may proceed, a
usual, TO DO nothing until the month OF
February is at band.
The tariff needs revision. The present
Is Republican tariff. 1t is the worst
save one under which the country ever
suffered. In order to compel It's revision
and improvement. it must be in commit
tee next fall. otherwise, the present
iarif, with all its iniquitieS, will be con-
tlnucd in forcs. The framing Of good
lsHfl would be OF itself an act OF lesisll-
ton that would justify an extra session o.
Congress.
There are numerous other subjects OF
legislation which viii never be reached
unless Congress be convened in extra ses-
sion. We will not undertake TO name
them.
But the controlling consideration with
Us - that unless COugrcs, be convened in
extra session, it will do no extra work.
IL will, on the contrary, continue in the
old ruts rs l0ng rs it Is permitted
10 meet on the first wednesday 10
December and waste the first six
weeks of its session in doing nothing.
1t needs "shaking up" The President can
make "tbe fierce light that beats upon the
throne" in other countries beat upon Con-
gress in this country ii he viii! only call an
extra session, and when it begins tell our
legislative servants what it is that the peo-
pie expect at their hands.